Vacuum sweeping apparatus



Aug. 12, 1969 T. COOK 3,

VACUUM SWEEPING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 6. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ."Q' 3 8,, F/G/ INVENTOR. 4i 1; THEMSTER soon T. COOK VACUUM SWEEPING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 6. 1966 M Mam.

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THEMSTER COOK BY fi A TORNEYS United States Patent 3,460,185 VACUUM SWEEPING APPARATUS Thernster Cook, 1736 N. Green, Wichita, Kans. 67214 Filed Sept. 6, 1966, 581'. No. 577,489 Int. Cl. E01h 1/08; A47] 9/14 U.S. Cl. 15340 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is a vacuum cleaner apparatus usable with a tractor having a forwardly projecting vacuum intake head adapted to be placed flush with vertical surfaces during usage. Additionally, this invention is a cleaner apparatus including a housing means with inlet and discharge sections; vacuum supply means mounted within the housing means to create a vacuum pressure therethrough; nozzle means secured to the inlet section having an intake section positionable against a supporting surface; and a trailer means to support a container means thereon rearwardly or laterally of the housing means to receive the combination debris and air from the nozzle means.

Numerous types of outdoor vacuum sweeper structures are known to the prior art for cleaning streets and the like, all operable similar to a conventional vacuum cleaner. The prior art devices are limited in operation due to size and maneuverability in the respective effectiveness and thoroughness of cleaning restricted areas. Additionally, many of these prior art devices are limited by weight to street cleaning operations and cannot be used on lawn surfaces. It is also noted that the prior art devices are bulky in size, difficult to operate, and expensive to manufacture.

In accordance with the present invention, a new vacuum cleaner apparatus for use with a tractor or the like is provided having a centrifugal type blower mechanism mounted in a rigid housing. The tractor has a forwardly projected power takeofi shaft drivingly connected to the blower mechanism to create a vacuum pressure throughout the housing. A nozzle member secured to the housing extends forwardly therefrom and has an intake portion positioned adjacent the supporting surface. The nozzle member is operable to direct inlet air and any material through the blower mechanism for exit through a discharge section of the housing into a container means.

In preferred specific embodiments of the invention, a vacuum cleaner apparatus is provided for cleaning lawn surfaces and the like having a main body or housing enclosing a centrifugal blower mechanism. The housing has a central inlet section and an upper discharge section which is connected to a hose member that, in turn, is connected to a receiving chamber or container. The forward portion of the housing is secured to a downwardly depending nozzle member having a laterally and horizontally extended intake head adapted to be positioned adjacent the surface to be cleaned. The nozzle member forms a guide channel to direct intake air and any material mixed therewith from the intake head into the inlet section for conveyance by the blower mechanism into the container. The cleaner apparatus has an attachment means connectable to a forwardly projected power takeoff shaft of a tractor to provide the necessary power to drive the blower mechanism and create the necessary vacuum pressure throughout the cleaner apparatus. This structure results in a forward projection of the nozzle member permitting the abutment of the intake head adjacent given horizontal and vertical adjoining surfaces for a thorough cleaning operation. A trailer means is connected to the tractor for supporting the container, such Patented Aug. 12, 1969 as a large porous bag, and trailing the same therebehind.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a vacuum cleaner apparatus overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner apparatus readily attachable to a power tractor operable to efficiently and effectively clean a lawn surface or the like.

Still, another object of this invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner apparatus connectable to the forwardly projected power takeoff shaft of a tractor structure and having a forwardly projected nozzle member operable to efiiciently and effectively abut a given vertical surface for an effective cleaning operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner apparatus having a blower mechanism connected to a power tractor and a trailer means supporting a container to receive debris from the blower mechanism for cleaning lawn surfaces and the like of grass, leaves, etc.

One other object of this invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner apparatus that is simple to operate, easy to maneuver, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the vacuum cleaner apparatus of this invention connected to a power tractor;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the vacuum cleaner apparatus of this invention illustrating, in dotted lines, another means for attaching a trailer means of this invention thereto;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the vacuum cleaner apparatus of this invention connected to a power tractor;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 66 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a blower fan structure of the vacuum cleaner apparatus of this invention; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the operation of the vacuum cleaner apparatus of this invention in cleaning the support surface and abutting a vertical obstruction.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the new vacuum cleaner apparatus of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to he understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular FIG. 1, the vacuum cleaner apparatus of this invention, indicated generally at 12, includes a vacuum assembly 14 connected to and powered by a tractor 16 pulling a trailer means 18 which, in turn, is supporting a container means 20 adapted to receive air and material from the vacuum assembly 14.

More particularly, the vacuum assembly 14 includes a blower mechanism 22 mounted within a casing or housing 24 which is vertically elevated by a support assembly 26 secured thereto. The housing 24 has circular front and back plates 28 and 29, respectively, interconnected along opposed peripheral edges by a support wall 31 as by welding or the like. The back plate 29 is welded to a support plate 33 having a pair of parallel, rearwardly extended upright gusset plates 34 secured thereto for added rigidity. The front plate 28 has a circular intake portion or opening 35 therein to receive air and material therethrough as will become obvious. The support wall 31 has an opening 37 therethrough with opposed edges thereof extended substantially tangential thereto to form a discharge section 39. As shown in FIGS. and 6, the discharge section 39 is of a square shape in transverse crosssection having an L-shaped upper elbow 41 extended rearwardly with a discharge opening 43 therein leading to a hose member 45 connected to the container means 20 and the elbow 41, respectively. The intake opening 35 leads into a nozzle member 46 secured as by welding to the front plate 28 and downwardly depending therefrom. The nozzle member 46 has a cylindrical portion 48 about the intake opening and an intake head 49 connected thereto by an elongated mid portion 51 of rectangular tube shape in transverse cross section. The intake head 49 has an enlarged downwardly open inlet opening 53 extended horizontally and laterally of the mid portion 51 similar to a conventional household vacuum cleaner head. It is seen, therefore, that the nozzle member 46 forms a guide channel to direct air and material mixed therewith from the inlet opening 53 into the blower mechanism 22.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the support assembly 26 includes an upright leg member 54 secured to the lower surface of the support wall 31 of the housing 24. The leg member 54 has a roller or wheel member 56 connected to the lower end thereof adapted to ride in contact with the supporting ground surface. The wheel member 56 has a main transverse shaft 58 slidably mountable in opposite cut out portions in the leg member 54 and readily movable to adjust the vertical height of the housing 24 and connected nozzle member 46 as desired and required under certain cleaning operations as will become obvious.

The blower mechanism 22 has a fan blade assembly 59 mounted within the housing 24 secured to a blower shaft 61 extended transversely and rotatably supported in the back plate 29 and the support plate 33. The rearward end of the blower shaft 61 is vertically and rotatably supported in an upright plate 63 secured to and extended between the gusset plates 34. Intermediate the opposite ends of the blower shaft 61 is mounted a driven pully 64 adapted to receive a belt 65 as will be explained.

As best shown in FIG. 7, the fan blade assembly 59 further has a plurality of radial blades 67 secured to a central hub 68 which, in turn, is secured to the blower shaft 61 as by a set screw or the like. The blades 67 are interconnected and given rigidity by triangular plates 70 welded thereto positioned adjacent the back plate 29. The blades 67 extend substantially parallel to each other and to the axis of the shaft 61 having inner arcuate cut out portions increasing radially towards the central hub 68. The forwardmost edges of the blades 67 are formed with laterally bent (substantially 90 degrees thereto) guide sections 72 extended towards the direction of the rotation of the shaft 61. The guide sections 72 are necessary to create an effective and highly eflicient vacuum by the blower mechanism 22 as will be explained.

In order to provide the power to the blower mechanism 22, a second intermediate pulley 73 is secured to a shaft 75 having its opposite ends rotatably mounted in the support plate 33 and the upright plate 63 (FIG. 6). The belt 65 interconnects the pulleys 64 and 73 in a conventional manner and the rearward end of the shaft 75 is connected to a clutch means 76 connectable to a power supply to drive the blower mechanism 22.

More specifically, the power supply is preferably the tractor 16 having a motor 78 mounted on an axle 80 supported on spaced wheels or tire members 82. The tractor 16 is illustrated of a conventional garden type having a pair of upright handles 84 and a control lever 85 movable by the operator to control the direction and speed thereof, respectively. The front end of the tractor 16 is provided with a forwardly projected power take-oft shaft 87 rotatable at a desired speed by the motor 78 on actuation of the control lever 85. The outer end of the power takeoff shaft 87 is formed with a clutch plate 88 engageable with the clutch means 76 mounted thereon so as to provide a flexible drive to prevent damage to the blower mechanism 22 and the power supply from sudden shocks or overload emergencies.

As shown in FIG. 1, the trailer means 18 includes a flatbed 9t) vertically supported on wheel means 91 secured thereto having a forwardly projected tongue member 93. The tractor 16 has a conventional draw bar 94 to which is releasably connected the tongue member93 for pulling the trailer 16 therebchind. The container means 20 is preferably constructed of a flexible porous type material bag 96 supported on the flatbed 90. The bag 96 can be releasably connected to the flatbed as by clamps or the like (not shown). Additionally, the container means 20 is secured to the hose member 45 as by a standard ring clamp or a drawstring 97 as desired to form an air seal therewith.

In the use and operation of the vacuum cleaner apparatus 12 of this invention, the vacuum assembly 14 is readily attachable to the tractor 16 on bolting the clutch means 76 to the clutch plate 88 and an actuator lever 99 is movable to place the same into driving engagement with conventional abutting friction plate members. The trailer means 18 is secured to the tractor 16 on attachment of the tongue member 93 to the drawbar 94 in a conventional manner whereupon the container means 20 is placed on the flatbed 90 and connected to the blower mechanism 22 by the hose member 45. The tractor 16 is preferably of a self-propelled type and the motor 78 is started to rotate the fan blade assembly 59 through the power takeoff shaft 87, pulleys 64 and 73; the belt 65; and the shaft 61. Obviously, this results in rotation of the blades 67 to create a vacuum pressure within the housing 24 with air flow from the intake head 49 therethrough and into the container means 20- whereupon the air only is filtered outwardly through the porous wall bag 96 as in a conventional type vacuum cleaner and the debris carried therewith remains in bag 96.

On actuation of the control lever 85, the vacuum cleaner apparatus 12 is propelled as desired by the operator and easily guided by the handle members 84. The intake head 49 is positioned adjacent the supporting ground such as a lawn surface and vertically adjustable on movement of the wheel member 56 to achieve the proper vacuum suction on the lawn surface. It is seen that air will enter the vacuum assembly 14 through the inlet opening 53 of the head 49 and concurrently pick up leaves, sprigs, grass, etc. for conveyance into the container means 20. The nozzle member 46 presents a forwardly projected structure operable to cover a considerable lateral area and is constructed so as to be readily maneuverable and positionable against a vertical surface such as a building or fence to achieve a thorough cleaning operation (FIG. 8).

Additionally, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, the trailer means 18 can be secured to an offset bar 101 which is connected to the draw bar 94 so that the container means 20 and the trailer means 18 are trailed to one side of the vacuum assembly 14 and the tractor 16. This permits the operator to stand or sit behind the handle members 84 of the tractor 16 for greater control and comfort in operating the vacuum cleaner apparatus 12 of this invention.

It is seen that the vacuum cleaner apparatus 12 of this invention presents a readily maneuverable structure that is simple to operate, highly eflicient in its intended use and operation, and rather inexpensive to manufacture, The vacuum assembly 14 of this invention presents a compact structure that is readily attachable to any desired power source having a forwardly projected power takeoff shaft whereby the nozzle member or pickup head thereof is readily maneuverable so as to clean up debris from a given supporting ground surface notwithstanding its location near an abutting vertical obstruction.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of applicants vacuum cleaner appartus, realtive simple and inexpensive means have been provided that is readily attachable to a conventional tractor so as to provide an efiicient and effective means for removing leaves, grass, and other debris from supporting surface. Applicants construction eliminates a great deal of time-consuming and tedious Work involved in cleaning a given surface and, therefore, results in a large monetary savings in labor costs.

I claim:

1. A vacuum cleaner apparatus for a tractor having a forward power takeoff, comprising:

(a) a housing having an inlet portion and an outlet portion,

(b) vacuum creating means comprising a centrifugal blower mounted within said housing and connectible to the power takeoff on said tractor,

(c) nozzle means secured to said inlet portion and having a casing having an intake section having an elongated inlet positionable transverse of the tractor and forward of the tractor and said housing,

(d) said intake section of said nozzle means having a forward wall portion extending substantially vertical in use so that said forward wall is positionable in abutting relation against vertical obstructions,

(e) container means connected to said outlet portion of said housing,

(f) trailer means securable to the tractor adapted to carry said container means,

(g) said container means including an enlarged bag member connectible through a hose member to said vacuum creating means to receive debris therein, and

(h) said trailer means including an enlongated flat bed member connected to a tongue member which is pivotally connectible to the tratcor, said connection having an offset portion whereby an operator using the tractor can have said trailer means and said container means positionable laterally for ease of usage.

2. A vacuum clean apparatus, comprising:

(a) a tractor having a power takeoff,

(b) a housing having an inlet portion and an outlet portion,

(c) vacuum creating means comprising a centrifugal blower mounted within said housing and connected to said power takeoff,

(d) nozzle means secured to said inlet portion and having a casing having an intake section having an elongated inlet transverse of the said tractor and forward of same,

(c) said intake section of said nozzle means having a forward wall portion extending substantially vertical so that said wall is positionable in abutting relation against vertical obstructions,

(f) trailer means connected to said tractor and trailed thereby in use, including an elongated flat bed member having a forwardly projecting tongue member pivotally connected to the tractor, said connection having an offset portion, and

(g) container means mounted on said trailer means and including a vacuum bag member connected to said outlet portion of said housing by a hose member, and said container means and said trailer means can be trailed by the tractor in offset position through the pivotal connection of said offset portion so as to be easily useable by one person positioned behind the tractor.

3. A vacuum cleaner appartus for a tractor having a forward power takeoff, comprising:

(a) a housing having an inlet portion and outlet portion,

(b) vacuum creating means comprising a centrifugal blower mounted within said housing and connectible to the power takeoff on said tractor,

(c) nozzle means secured to said inlet portion and having a casing having an intake section having an elongated inlet positionable transverse of the tractor and forward of the tractor and said housing,

(d) said intake section of said nozzle means having a forward wall portion extending substantially vertical in use so that said forward wall is positionable in abutting relation against vertical obstructions,

(e) vertical support means secured to said housing,

said support means having a wheel member adjustably connected to an upright leg member secured to a lower portion of said housing whereby the position of said nozzle inlet relative to the supporting ground surface can be varied,

(f) said upright leg member having a plurality of spaced cutout portions, and

(g) said Wheel member having a transversely extending shaft member adjustable positionable in said cutout portions of said leg member whereby the position of said nozzle inlet relative to the supporting ground surface can be readily and easily adjusted.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 478,307 7/1892 Bee 230l34.45 1,149,904 8/1915 Foster 230134.45 2,590,734 3/1952 Strong 15340 XR 2,971,210 2/1961 Thompson l5346 3,112,511 12/1963 Lan'kenau l5350 2,658,318 11/1953 Miller 5650-1 3,126,571 3/1964 Abbott 15350 ROBERT 'W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. l5--347, 354 

